We have been exploring nearby cities recently, trying to locate some neighborhoods we would like to live in. This is a HARD thing because we really can't tell enough about a "hood" without living in it or knowing someone who does.

There is a neighborhood in Middleton that holds a special place in our heart because it holds people who are special to us. Middleton is on the outskirts of the Treasure Valley and still has a small town feel to it. I both love that and am concerned by that. There is space, a person can breathe out there... but boy is it unnerving to drive down country roads at night... with NO streetlights. Here's Middleton...

​What do you do when you’re living in a hotel and don’t have a job to race off to each day? Go exploring, that’s what! This exploration excursion took us 42 miles north to Banks, a shore of the Payette River. My favorite kind of “beach” is one along a fresh water river.

These things are not all related.

My parents have been up here visiting since Thursday morning - they drove straight through from Whittier to Boise. Crazy pants! This morning, after breakfast and showers, they walked from their hotel to our hotel (literally across the street). We put Saorise in her crate and the humans loaded up in our van to go see some homes that are on our list. We saw the Boise ones and a few of the Meridian ones before my head couldn't stand navigating and external home views only.

After house-peeking, we dropped my folks off, did lunch, and then picked them up again. This time Saoirse was with all of us as we visited Eagle Island State Park. My parents wanted to see the boys enjoying themselves in some water. While at EISP Saoirse made a new friend. His name is Bryce and he's a 2.5 yr old Copper-nosed Blue Merle Aussie (heavy on the black coloring). He was adorable! His dad, Dave, thought it would be fun to break some rules and let them off leash to play with each other. It was fun! Those pups had a BLAST. Then a park employee came over and told us the Park Ranger saw the dogs off leash and wanted them on leash... which they already were by that point. Such rebels. Bryce and his parents are new transplants from CA as well. Retired law enforcement and just couldn't take watching CA deteriorate anymore. They are building their dream home and beyond elated to continue life here is Idaho.

After the park shenanigans, we dropped my parents and the boys off at my parents' hotel. The boys got to do some more swimming, in a clean pool and a spa. Then the four of them went to dinner while Jake and I went on a dinner date ourselves. What a blessing! We got back to our hotel, let Saoirse out, and took her for a walk. My parents and the boys beat us back to our room and promptly started a Mario Kart tournament on the Wii. Boy was Saoirse excited to see her Granddad! I wish y'all could see her enthusiasm when he's around. It's priceless.

Well, there you have it. Family. Fun. Mayhem.

We say farwell, again, to my parents tomorrow morning as they plan to drive straight through from Boise to Whittier... taking a piece of my heart back with them. Until next time.

Last night was EPIC!

Jake's parents sent us the names and phone numbers of a couple they knew from Washington who has recently moved to Idaho. I tried calling the wife but the number was off by one digit. So, what does any normal, 21st century person do? That's right, gently stalk them on Facebook. Success! I was able to connect with Mrs H and we talked for a good hour. Obviously we have plenty in common. They invited us to have dinner at their place Thursday night (last night). We made it over there a little after 6pm and didn't leave until after 10pm.

They have three precious boys (8, 7, 4). Our boys enjoyed time with new friends and we did too. It's wonderful to spend time with a family who has similar interests and vision for raising a Christian crew. We got along so well Mrs H and I were scheming about how to get us a house in that neighborhood - FYI, there IS a house for sale on their street. Pray with us that if it's the Lord's will for us to be that close to them the doors will open accordingly.

This sweet family lives in Middleton... a town several Boise peeps have warned against (for various reasons). However, this family loves their neighbors, neighborhood, town, etc. Middleton is still full of farm charm and a much lower (but increasing) population than Boise. I am curious what it would be like to live there 24/7 versus visiting. Driving back to base (our hotel) in the dark on country roads took me back to places in my youth - Durango, CO and Hugo, OK. Durango was where my paternal grandparents in the early 90's. It was beautiful... and pitch black at night. I mean, so black that you couldn't see two houses away but you certainly could see a bajillion stars. It was also ridiculously quiet at night. That was so unnerving to my young self that I couldn't sleep. The remedy? A radio playing soft music. Looking back at that scenario I chuckle because currently I would give an appendage to have that kind of quiet. Hugo was more the small farm town with dirt roads that lacked street lights. That was where my maternal grandparents lived and where I would visit some summers.

Anyhow... our time with the H Fam was such a blessing. The conversation was lively, the boys even more so. This family was beyond generous in the way they loved on us, too... Mrs H messaged me saying "It was your youngest's birthday last week?" She proceeded to inquire about his favorite dessert which, of course, is chocolate anything. So, they had a cake for Dempsey AND a gift. Such thoughtfulness! Now, this cake... this cake wasn't just a cake with some frosting. Nope. This cake was two layers of chocolate cake filled with chocolate mousse, topped with M&Ms, and finally fenced on the sides with KitKats bars. What an indulgence! Thankfully we work hard to maintain low sugar consumption 90% of the time so 10% of the time we can splurge. The H Fam lives that way too... so it's nice to have that element in common as well.

Please cover this family in a prayer of blessing with me...
Father in Heaven, rain down your favor upon the H Fam. Fill their hearts with joy, their lives with spiritual fruit, and their community with strong believers to build them up. I pray that Mr H will continue to have solid employment and that the little H Fam misters grow in Christlikeness to become world-changers for the Kingdom. I pray protection over the hearts, minds, eyes, and bodies of the precious family. I rebuke any negative influences or presences that would seek to steal joy or distract from your will. Please allow this new friendship to flourish, grow deep roots, and be a powerful force for Your Good. Amen.

 So, it FINALLY happened.

Our Whittier, CA house sold. We packed up and drove to Idaho via NV, AZ, & UT.

So, what's the plan. Faith, my friends... lots and lots of faith. Currently we are all (six of us) living in a hotel. Yes, a hotel. We will be here for a month. Let me tell you, living in a hotel is hard. No real privacy. No real alone time. No space. I know this sounds like first world complaining... perhaps it is. It's also honest.

What's a faith journey without some hiccups? I doubt you could call it a faith journey without them. Thankfully our journey has had hiccups so it still counts as a faith journey. Hiccup #1: over-packing vehicles. That caused me too much anxiety. So, we repacked and left even more items behind at my parent's house. Thankfully, this means we get to see my parents sooner than expected. Hiccup #2: our Civic over-heated. IN VEGAS! The car we had just spent $2,000 on making sure that didn't happen. So, yeah... I was pissed.

When hiccups happen you can be sure the Lord is working on you through them. While the car was being handled ($400+ and hrs later...) we met a lovely angel. I took the boys and the animals to Petsmart to enjoy airconditioning. That's where we met the angel named Givan. She insisted that the boys come use her pool while the car was being handled. If this had been a day previous I would have quickly declined, but I didn't. Why not? Because we're on a faith journey now. So, the boys and I visited Givan's condo complex and they swam for awhile. What a treat! Jake stayed with the Civic and met up with us later.

We were supposed to make it to Provo, UT by the close of Day 1. That didn't happen. We made it to Filmore, UT instead because I just couldn't drive another 2.5 hrs. We lost money on our reservation (which sucks) because we cancelled way too late and we had to spend more on an impromtu stay at a Best Western. Thankfully, the breakfast was legit! Traveling with pets makes everything harder, folks.

By the close of Day 2 we were successfully and safely to our destination of Boise, ID. Here we unpacked our vehicles into a  maybe-300 sqft suite. Thankful to have a roof over our heads and beds to sleep in, but man it's tight quarters.

Other happenings:
➤ obtained a PO BOX (our first key in Idaho)
➤ visited the Zoo Boise (not Boise Zoo 😜), picked up our passes and Dempsey's ocelot plaque that my bestie and her hubby blessed us with (they gifted us with annual passes to the zoo AND they adopted an ocelot for a year as a birthday present for Dempsey)
➤ had ice cream at Delsa's for Dempsey's birthday
➤ explored dog parks (there are so many!)
➤ stuck our feet in the Boise River and watched people go rafting/ tubing
➤ explored some nearby cities (Idaho City, Meridian, Middleton, Star, Eagle... we'll keep exploring)
➤ went to Lake Hazel Bible Church on Sunday (small church, lovely people)
➤ visited Lucky Peak Discovery Park (not the fun beachy area that doesn't allow dogs)
➤ enjoyed Eagle Island State Park and made new friends
➤ Jake had a face-to-face interview with an A/V company (doesn't look like a good fit, sadly)
➤ I've left a message for the St Luke's recruiter I have had contact with
➤ been put in touch with more local connections via family and friends (what a blessing)
➤ met our future landlord, Jessica, and checked out the house we'll be renting come 9/12
➤ discovered a favorite destination - Dutch Bros coffee (dangerously close, like within walking distance)
➤ met Dempsey's new oncologist and toured his new clinic/ hospital - St Luke's Children's
➤ visited the local Trader Joe's (PTL there are familiar stores)
➤ Dempsey's favorite thing(s) we've done so far is "visit lakes... and parks"
➤ Sawyer's favorite thing we've done so far is "probably go to parks" (he is excited by the various zip line options they have)
➤ Jake's favorite thing so far was going to the Boise River at Barber Park
➤ took Saoirse (seer-shuh) to the vet for her vaccinations